Is British Airways the airline with the worst long haul economy seat?
#18
Join Date: Nov 2004
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#19
Join Date: Sep 2015
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With all the different varieties of aircraft and layouts, its impossible to take such a sweeping generalisation seriously.
The Y layout on a QF A-330 is like a sardine can, a BA 777-300 is far more preferable. Where as the QF A-380 is more spacious in Y and probably becomes more preferable.
The Y layout on a QF A-330 is like a sardine can, a BA 777-300 is far more preferable. Where as the QF A-380 is more spacious in Y and probably becomes more preferable.
#20
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: London
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Mate, this is FT - no-one cares about the Longhaul Y seats
Now if you want to complain about Yingyang vs Herringbone then feel free, but you'll probably still receive some fervent counterarguments!
Now if you want to complain about Yingyang vs Herringbone then feel free, but you'll probably still receive some fervent counterarguments!
#21
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: BAEC Gold, IHG Spire Elite
Posts: 289
I hate hate hate the articulated seats. If the person in front of you reclines you totally lose the ability to use your table tray.
On a ba Y seat you can use a tablet or small laptop, and eat your meal in peace, even if they recline.
Talking to my aussie friends about "is it morally acceptable to recline your airline seat, or are you a steaming pile of human waste?" They always think it's the latter because of their experiences on QF.
I've recently flown BA in Y LHR-SYD (787 + A380) and honestly, the worst thing is the clapped out entertainment system.
On a ba Y seat you can use a tablet or small laptop, and eat your meal in peace, even if they recline.
Talking to my aussie friends about "is it morally acceptable to recline your airline seat, or are you a steaming pile of human waste?" They always think it's the latter because of their experiences on QF.
I've recently flown BA in Y LHR-SYD (787 + A380) and honestly, the worst thing is the clapped out entertainment system.
#22
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#23
Join Date: Mar 2015
Programs: BA GGL
Posts: 2,447
It's all roughly the same tbh. At least you can ask for several gins without staff batting an eyelid (not so on AA).
The thing with the newer planes is the seat width tends to be slightly less to accommodate more passengers in aircraft that aren't as wide - so comfort isn't going to improve, frankly, whichever carrier you fly.
People have made a lot of noise about Air New Zealand being good/better (which I've never flown, so can't comment from experience).
The thing with the newer planes is the seat width tends to be slightly less to accommodate more passengers in aircraft that aren't as wide - so comfort isn't going to improve, frankly, whichever carrier you fly.
People have made a lot of noise about Air New Zealand being good/better (which I've never flown, so can't comment from experience).
#24
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Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Argentina
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Worst in everything on the ground as well as in the air. Even PUCCI GALORE's erotic dance routine to entertain the F customers when the IFE went on the blink got the thumbs down I heard.
#25
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Last edited by Cap'n Benj; Dec 3, 2018 at 7:17 am Reason: incorrect auto correct
#26
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Bridport, Dorset
Programs: Mucci, BA Bronze, Hilton Gold
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I get that the seats old planes are what they are but on new planes (777-300,787,a389) surely they could do better. I have been on both qantas and Qatar recently and both have an articulates seat pan in economy. When you recline the seat pan moves slightly forward. It is a small movement but makes a difference on a long flight.
BA on their new seats don't have this feature. Given how long the seats last it is pretty shameful of them. To fly and to serve... The shareholder only. Surely the option on the articulated seat pan (also on some Virgin and I think United dreamliner) is not going to cost that much more... But makes a big difference for comfort. Also .. On a side note. Qantas food... Perhaps presented without the frills of a tray but for the first time have not been hungry in economy unlike ba. Better food and better portions.
BA has completely stopped trying to improve the economy experience and innovate positively (not coat cutting....)
BA on their new seats don't have this feature. Given how long the seats last it is pretty shameful of them. To fly and to serve... The shareholder only. Surely the option on the articulated seat pan (also on some Virgin and I think United dreamliner) is not going to cost that much more... But makes a big difference for comfort. Also .. On a side note. Qantas food... Perhaps presented without the frills of a tray but for the first time have not been hungry in economy unlike ba. Better food and better portions.
BA has completely stopped trying to improve the economy experience and innovate positively (not coat cutting....)
#27
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Stockholm, Sweden.
Programs: BA, JAL
Posts: 689
I get that the seats old planes are what they are but on new planes (777-300,787,a389) surely they could do better. I have been on both qantas and Qatar recently and both have an articulates seat pan in economy. When you recline the seat pan moves slightly forward. It is a small movement but makes a difference on a long flight.
BA on their new seats don't have this feature. Given how long the seats last it is pretty shameful of them. To fly and to serve... The shareholder only. Surely the option on the articulated seat pan (also on some Virgin and I think United dreamliner) is not going to cost that much more... But makes a big difference for comfort. Also .. On a side note. Qantas food... Perhaps presented without the frills of a tray but for the first time have not been hungry in economy unlike ba. Better food and better portions.
BA has completely stopped trying to improve the economy experience and innovate positively (not coat cutting....)
BA on their new seats don't have this feature. Given how long the seats last it is pretty shameful of them. To fly and to serve... The shareholder only. Surely the option on the articulated seat pan (also on some Virgin and I think United dreamliner) is not going to cost that much more... But makes a big difference for comfort. Also .. On a side note. Qantas food... Perhaps presented without the frills of a tray but for the first time have not been hungry in economy unlike ba. Better food and better portions.
BA has completely stopped trying to improve the economy experience and innovate positively (not coat cutting....)
Many years ago in my youth I was forced onto one of air china's planes to have my worst flying experience. so uncomfortable, and the plane stank badly. in those days, people with babies used to put the used nappies in the magazine placeholder. BA couldn't do worse than that surely? Although, last time out they thought I should clean up the previous occupants mess. So poor.
#28
Join Date: Oct 2018
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I had a similar conversation with someone on a BA transatlantic flight who said "who really cares about cattle class, you're crammed into an uncomfortably small space, it's going to be bad no matter which airline you're flying with". I disagreed with him and took the view that since you're in an uncomfortably small space the little things go a long way in economy.
I haven't done a long haul flight in QF economy for quite a while now but the last BA flight I did in economy was fine. I'm a 6'3/105kg rugby player and I didn't feel particularly uncomfortable. Food was average but the food in CW isn't much better frankly.
I haven't done a long haul flight in QF economy for quite a while now but the last BA flight I did in economy was fine. I'm a 6'3/105kg rugby player and I didn't feel particularly uncomfortable. Food was average but the food in CW isn't much better frankly.
#29
Join Date: Jul 2014
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